Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis
Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis at a glance
- Asthma: Chronic reversible airway inflammation with episodic bronchoconstriction.
- Cystic Fibrosis: Autosomal recessive CFTR dysfunction causing thick secretions, lung disease, and pancreatic insufficiency.
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 6,400+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Asthma | Cystic Fibrosis |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Chronic reversible airway inflammation with episodic bronchoconstriction. | Autosomal recessive CFTR dysfunction causing thick secretions, lung disease, and pancreatic insufficiency. |
| Classic presentation | Wheezing that improves with short-acting beta-agonist; nocturnal cough; symptom relief between episodes.; Episodic wheeze, cough (often nocturnal), chest tightness, dyspnea; Triggered by allergens, exercise, cold air, viral URIs, NSAIDs, beta-blockers, emotional stress; Diurnal variation: worse at night and early morning; Expiratory… | Neonatal: meconium ileus (10-20%), failure to thrive, prolonged jaundice; Pulmonary: chronic productive cough, recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, nasal polyps, wheeze, exercise intolerance, hemoptysis, clubbing; GI: bulky greasy foul-smelling stools, malabsorption (fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies A, D, E, K), distal intestinal obstruction… |
| Workup / key labs | GINA: history of variable respiratory symptoms + confirmed variable expiratory airflow limitation (bronchodilator reversibility, methacholine positivity, or PEF variability).; CBC (eosinophilia supports allergic phenotype); Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE if considering biologics or ABPA; FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) —… | CF Foundation 2017: clinical features OR positive newborn screen OR sibling history PLUS evidence of CFTR dysfunction — sweat chloride ≥60 mmol/L (two tests) OR two disease-causing CFTR mutations OR abnormal nasal potential difference.; Sweat chloride test (pilocarpine iontophoresis) — diagnostic gold standard: ≥60 mmol/L on two… |
| Imaging | CXR — usually normal or hyperinflation; obtain to exclude alternative diagnoses or complications (pneumothorax, pneumonia); HRCT if bronchiectasis or alternative diagnosis suspected | HRCT chest — bronchiectasis (upper lobe predominant in CF), mucus plugging, air trapping; CXR — hyperinflation, peribronchial thickening, atelectasis; Abdominal imaging if DIOS or biliary disease |
| First-line treatment | GINA 2024 has eliminated SABA-only treatment; all adults and adolescents should receive ICS-containing therapy; Step 1-2 (mild): low-dose ICS-formoterol PRN (preferred 'MART' approach) — budesonide-formoterol or beclomethasone-formoterol; Step 3 (moderate): low-dose ICS-LABA daily + ICS-formoterol PRN as reliever; Step 4: medium-dose… | CFTR modulator therapy — disease-modifying, transformative:; Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (Trikafta) — for ≥2 years with ≥1 F508del or other responsive mutation; >85% of patients now eligible; Ivacaftor — for gating mutations (G551D and others); Tezacaftor/ivacaftor, lumacaftor/ivacaftor — earlier-generation combinations; Airway… |
Drill Asthma vs Cystic Fibrosis questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 6,400+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA or PAEA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; End of Rotation™ is a program of the Physician Assistant Education Association.